Device for teaching morse code



March 28, 1961 v. w. BOLlE 2,976,619

DEVICE FOR TEACHING MORSE CODE Filed Dec. 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR:

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V. W. BOLIE DEVICE FOR TEACHING MORSE CODE s Q M 0 o oo oo oo o o oW o ooo 00 000 o\ N 0 W o M m MNWMHE March 28, 1961 Filed Dec. 11, 1958 ByWMZM ATTORNEYS.

Ulliifi DEVICE FOR TEACHING MORSE CODE Filed Dec. 11, 1958, Ser. No.779,659

3 Claims. (Cl. 35-8) This invention relates to a cryptographic deviceand method of manufacture and, more particularly, to a device adapted todecode Morse code.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel cryptographicdevice-one particularly suited for arranging the code symbols of a Morsecode in one portion of the device and thereupon having another portionof the device visually present the alphabet or other language element towhich the code symbol pertains. Another object is to provide a method ofconstructing a decoding device which is easily carried out so that, ifdesired, the operation can be performed manually. Still another objectis to provide a device for cryptographic analysis and a method offabrication in which the device is a compact and rugged instrumentcapable of hard usage yet accurate in a decoding operation. Yet anotherobject is to provide a novel cryptographic device and method offabrication thereof in which relatively few elements are quicklyassembled in a procedure that permits of considerable variation so as toprovide for the interpretation of a large variety of code symbols. Otherspecific objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thisspecification proceeds.

This invention, in an illustrative embodiment, will be explained inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in Which Fig. l is aperspective view of a device embodying the teachings of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective View of the device seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of various internal elements ofthe device, showing the arrangement of apertures that aid in achievingthe decoding operation; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 1,taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral designates generally a deviceadapted to decode Morse code. The device 10 includes a top plate 11 anda bottom plate 12 secured together by means of bolts 13 (best seen inFig. 4) in spaced-apart, parallel, aligned relation so as to form agenerally hollow frame.

The top plate is equipped with 26 apertures 14, each of which is alignedwith a letter of the alphabet 15 provided on the bottom plate 12. Thiscan be quickly appreciated from a consideration of Fig. 2.

Interposed between the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 12 for slidablemovement therebetween are four intermediate plates or masking elements16, again most clearly seen in Fig. 2. These elements 16 are also seenin Fig. 3. Each element 16 is equipped with apertures 17 correspondingin number to the apertures 14 provided in the top plate 11. Each element16 is also equipped with an extension 13, the extension being in theplane of the plate-like elements 16. The extensions 18 are each equippedwith an upstanding handle 19 which protrudes above the top surface oftop plate 11 through slots 20. Thus, movement of handle w provides forStates Patent] ice . movement of the associated elements 16. Eachextension 18 is also equipped with a dot and a dash symbol spaced apartin the direction of the length of slot 20 so that the dash or dotdesignated 21 and 22, respectively, in Fig. '3, is selectively broughtbeneath a window 24 provided in the top plate 11. Intermediate the dot21 and handle 19, each extension 18 is blank as at 23 in Fig. 3 so thatat one position of element 16 no symbol will be viewed through window24.

In the operation of the device, a given code symbol arrangement of dotsand dashes is provided by positioning the various handles 19 so as todisclose the'desired dot and dash arrangement in the sequence desiredunder windows 24. Because of the aperturing arrangement with which eachmasking element 16 is equipped, only the letter 15 corresponding to thecode symbol will be visible. Thus, the person employing the device cansequentially arrange the code symbols to be coded underneath the windows24 and immediately read the alphabet letter in question.

In the fabrication of the device illustrated, the top plate is equippedwith the apertures 14 and four intermediate masking elements 16 areprovided. At the outset, these elements are without apertures, so thatno letter can be seen through any of the apertures 14. Thereafter, thedot and dash arrangement for a given letter is arranged by moving thehandles 19 as needed. For example, relative to the letter A, the handle19 for the uppermost element 16 (this element being designated by thenumeral 16a) is positioned midway in its associated slot 20a so as toprovide a dot in the slot 240 associated therewith. The handleassociated with the second from the top plate (this plate beingdesignated 16b) is positioned at the upper extreme of the associatedslot 2011 so as to position a dash beneath window 24b. The remaininghandles corresponding to plates 16c and 16d are positioned at thelowermost position within their associated slot 20 so that neither a dotnor a dash is seen.

Thereafter, aligned openings are provided in the four plates to revealthe letter A as found on the interior side of the bottom plate 12. Thisprocedure is performed with each of the subsequent letters of thealphabet, so that, in the illustration given, the code arrangement wouldresult in aperturing of the various masking plates 16 in the form shownin Fig. 4. Y

In Fig. 3, it is seen that the extensions 18 are narrower than theplates 16 and are arranged so that the extensions lie in side-by-side,non-overlapping relation. In this way, a single top plate equipped withfour windows 24 is able to disclose the dots and dashes of each one ofthe elements 16.

Again in Fig. 3, it'wi1lbe seen that each row of letters 15 on bottomplate 12 is matched by at least two rows of apertures 17 in the plate16. Exactly two rows of apertures 17 are provided in plate 16a, inasmuchas each letter of the alphabet requires either a dot or a dash in thefirst position or underneath window 24a.

On the other plates, however, many of the rows of letters (also the rowsof apertures 14 in top plate 12) will have three rows associated in themasking plate 16. For example, the upper row of letters in plate 12includes the letter B, which is represented in Morse code by a singledot. The corresponding aperture in plate 16b is designated by thenumeral 17a and is seen to lie in a row different from the remainingaperture rows 17b and 17c. In element 16b, the apertures 17 will all bearranged in two rows for each row of letters 15 in plate 12 with theexception of the rows containing the letters E (as described) and theletter T as designated in Fig. 3 by the numeral 17d.

This stems, of course, from the fact that the letter T is represented bya single dash.

Patented Ma.r .28;, 1,961

It is possible to extend the device shown to include other Morse symbolssuch as the five element symbols for the various numerals l-O. All thatis required is an additional plate 16, which results in an additionalwindow 24, the same procedure being followedfor the fabrication of thedevice. Still further, the code symbols representing various punctuationmarks, the punctuation requiring six element symbols, can beconveniently provided through the use of six intermediate plates 16 andsix windows 24.

A wide variety of manufacturing procedures can be employed, as well as awide variety of materials. Preferably, the materials should at least beopaque so that the presence of one plate 16 in covering relation to areading aperture 14 prevents inadvertent misreading. This can beconveniently provided by making the plates 16 out of metal or an opaqueplastic material. The device can be readily fabricated by an individualfor his own use merely by following the sequence of operations indicatedabove, wherein the code elements for a given letter or other languagesymbol are placed in the proper relation beneath the windows 24 andthereafter the plates beneath the proper apertures 14 drilled.Alternatively, the device can be mass produced through stampingoperations wherein the aperture arrangement is implanted on a suitabledie. If desired, the alphabet arrangement can be changed materially fromthe four rows shown on the bottom plate 12. For example, the alphabetletters can be arranged in rows in which the letters having the leastnumber of code elements appear first. Such an arrangement would resultin the first row having the letters I, A, M, N, F, etc. Such anarrangement might be of additional help to a person learning Morse codethrough the use of the invention.

While, in the foregoing specification, an embodiment of the inventionhas been set forth in considerable detail, it will be understood thatsuch details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for decoding Morse code, a top plate and a bottom platesecured together in spaced-apart, parallel, aligned relation, said topplate being equipped with at least twenty-six apertures, one for eachletter of the alphabet, the letters of the alphabet being positioned onthe interior of the bottom plate for view through the top plateapertures, at least four masking plates being also equipped with atleast twenty-six apertures and movably mounted between said top andbottom plates, the apertures in said masking plates being so arrangedthat for any given position arrangement thereof only one alphabet letteris visible, each of said masking plates being equipped with an extensioncarrying handle means extending through a slot in said top plate, theplate extensions lying in side-by-side relation and each carrying a dotand a dash, and a window in said top plate for each extension, thewindows being arranged in a row and each adapted to disclose respectiveportions of its associated extension bearing no code information, a dot,and a dash.

2. In a device for decoding Morse code, a top plate and a bottom platesecured together in spaced-apart, parallel, aligned relation, said topplate being equipped with at least twenty-six apertures, one for eachletter of the alphabet, the letters of the alphabet being positioned onthe interior of the bottom plate for view through the top plateapertures, at least four masking plates movably mounted between said topand bottom plates, each of said masking plates also being equipped withat least twenty-six apertures, the apertures in said masking platesbeing so arranged. that for any given position arrangement thereof onlyone alphabet letter thereof is visible, each of said masking platesbeing equipped with an extension, with each extension being free of anyover-lapping relation with the other extensions, a portion of eachextension projecting beyond said top plate to permit confined slidablemovement of the extension relative to the top plate, each extensioncarrying dot and dash symbols and a blank space, and viewing means onsaid top plate, said symbols and blank space on said extensions beingselectively alignable with said viewing means to permit view of any onealphabet letter for any given position arrangement.

3. In a device for decoding Morse code, a top plate and a bottom platesecured together in spaced-apart, parallel, aligned relation, said topplate being equipped with at least twenty-six apertures, one for eachletter of the alphabet, the letters of the alphabet being positioned onthe interior of the bottom plate for view through the top plateapertures, at least four masking plates movably mounted between said topand bottom plates, said masking plates also being equipped with at leasttwenty-six apertures, the apertures in said masking plates being soarranged that for any given position arrangement thereof only onealphabet letter is visible, each of said masking plates being mountedbetween said top and bottom plates for confined movement relative tosaid plates, each of said masking plates being equipped with anextension projecting beyond said top plate to position its associatedmasking plate in any one of three positions corresponding to a dot,dash, or blank space, and cooperative indicia means on said top platefor positioning said projections in any one of said three positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,165,465 Taylor -a Dec. 28, 1915 1,966,971 Rochlus July 17, 19342,503,130 Poritz Apr. 4, 1950 2,533,384 Martinez Dec. 12, 1950 2,693,646Hawkins Nov. 9, 1954

